The defense establishment has decided to demolish the homes of the
two terrorists who murdered five members of the Fogel family in
Itamar.

The decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff
Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, subject to approval by legal authorities, was
broadcast Sunday morning on Army Radio.

The report claimed the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) had
recommended demolishing the homes of Hakim and Ajmad Awad, both of
whom had announced their pride in their crime.

Two parents, two young boys and a baby were brutally slaughtered as
they slept in their home on a Friday night. Their 12-year-old
daughter and sister came home to find the carnage after attending a
Sabbath evening activity with her youth group. Only two of her little
brothers miraculously survived, having escaped the notice of the
terrorists during their murderous rampage.

"This was one of the most brutal terrorist attacks ever, and the
Shabak thinks the demolition is a punitive step that may deter other
terrorists from carrying out such horrendous crimes,” the report
quoted former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Perry as saying.

Several years ago, the Shin Bet, known by the Hebrew acronym “Shabak”
ended its long-standing policy of advocating the demolition of
terrorists´ homes. The reason for the change was based on the theory
that doing so did not discourage terrorism and instead resulted
further legal complications.

Although the agency has not changed its opinion, officials said that
in the case of the Fogel murders, the specific viciousness of the
murders warranted demolition of the homes because several relatives
of the terrorists acted as accessories to murders.